What about if you don't have the time or resources to build your own rod??

You can always buy one off the shelf. The models they sell now are much lighter and cause less fatigue than the ones they sold 30 years ago. If you fish only a few days a season, you might be very happy with one of many good brands you can select from in a tackle shop.

The problem with the future is that some makers are now making more blanks in 2 pieces because of the high cost of shipping a 1 piece. As the rod gets into the 9-10' or longer range for surfcasters, 2 piece blanks become a problem if you use them a lot.